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Prince of Wales Stakes Del Mar Futurity Del Mar Debutante Pacific Classic Day Pat O'Brien Stakes |
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 Talismanic, Karar, Sichuan Dar, Signs of Blessing, and The Right Man on Wednesday morning. |
The Longines Hong Kong International Races will be run this Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin Racecourse. As usual, horses from Europe, Asia, and Australia ship in for the four Group 1 races, billed as the Turf World Championships, with the HK$25 million (about US$3.2 million) Hong Kong Cup the highlight of the afternoon, contested at 2000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles). Conditions were excellent during training hours Wednesday, with sunny skies and temperatures in the high 60's, however thick smog shrouded the nearby hills and buildings. Many contenders took to the all-weather track which is located inside the turf course.
Here are photos for 25 of the international horses out on on the all-weather track and turf course at Sha Tin on Wednesday morning. Click the small photo to see a larger version.
 Chemical Charge (Vase) galloped twice around the all-weather track. |
 Danehill Kodiac (Vase) galloped twice around the all-weather track. Travelling head lad Tony Gorman commented: "He's a big strong horse, much stronger that he was last year and that's reflected in his recent performances. He certainly looks in great shape now." |
 Highland Reel (Vase) galloped once around the all-weather track under exercise rider Davy Bergin. Pat Keating, assistant to trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "He knows he's back here in Hong Kong, and he likes this place. Davy's happy with him." He is currently #9 in the top career earnings list and could move up several spots with a win here in his final start. |
 Talismanic (Vase) galloped twice around the all-weather track. Lisa-Jane Graffard, racing manager for Goldolphin France said, "Everything has been good with Talismanic since the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). He has been kept ticking over and is in good form. He travelled back well from the USA and has travelled out nicely to Hong Kong. The horse has a great temperament which helps and has shown himself to be very adaptable. Talismanic is maturing and improving all the time, so who knows what level he can reach in Hong Kong. It will pose a different challenge, but he should run very well again. In the past, he has run better going left-handed than right-handed, which would could be one negative to look out for." |
 Kiseke (Vase) galloped twice around on the turf course. |
 Max Dynamite (Vase) gallops on the all-weather track. David Casey, assistant to trainer Willie Mullins said, "The horse is fit and well. It's no easy task on Sunday but he's done well and if he could pick up some prize money, that would be grand." He comes here off a third place finish in the Melbourne Cup (G1) at Flemington on November 7. |
 Smart Call (Vase) galloped once around the turf course. |
 Tosen Basil (Vase) galloped twice around the all-weather track. Assistant trainer Kazuo Fujiwara said: "He is in great condition. Joao Moreira will ride him on Thursday." |
 Blond Me (Cup) galloped on the all-weather track under Leanne Masterton, assistant to trainer Andrew Balding. Masterton said, "So far, so good." |
 Deauville (Cup) cantered once around the all-weather track. Pat Keating, assistant to trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "There's not a lot to say from yesterday, they are all doing well and I'm happy enough with all of them right now." |
 Garlingari (Cup) galloped twice around the all-weather track. Assistant trainer Jean-Jacques Poincelet said, "He is quite used to the place now. He travelled over well and has eaten up well. He might get a feel of the grass on Thursday but it won't be anything too energetic as he worked in Chantilly before he left. He has had an easier campaign this year than last, when he ran a lot of races. I think he is in better physical and mental shape." |
 Poet's Word (Cup) gallops on the turf course. Bruce Raymond, racing manager for owner Saeed Suhail said, "Poet's Word has travelled out to Hong Kong well. Although he seems to go on any type of ground, I think he would prefer it on the easy side. If there was a drop of rain, we would be more than happy, but I don't think it is a necessity. He has won on fast ground before. Sir Michael (Stoute) wanted to bring him along slowly as he was a bit on the weak side, but as he has got older he has matured into a strong sort of horse. I think Sir Michael has always felt this was a horse with plenty of potential and he was lightly-raced coming into this year. His main objective after this will be the Dubai Sheema Classic." |
 Robin of Navan (Cup) galloped twice around the all-weather track. Christina Dunlop, wife of trainer Harry Dunlop said, "When we've taken Robin Of Navan abroad, we've looked to local riders and it has tended to pay off, especially with the post positions to consider. And Sam (Clipperton) is young and hungry – just like my husband! Harry's brother Ed has won three HKIR races (Ouija Board, Snow Fairy and Red Cadeaux), and we've had lots of helpful advice from him and Robin Trevor-Jones who always accompanied Ed's horses to Hong Kong. As to his condition, Robin Of Navan is eating and drinking well and is nearly back to his optimum weight." |
 Smart Layer (Cup) galloped on the all-weather track. Assistant trainer Kota Kato said: "Her condition has remained consistent. Since we have taken her out on the track every day since she arrived, we gave her a rest today and just did some light exercise in the quarantine area. She is in the same rhythm we usually keep her in at Ritto Training Centre. Compared to last year she is eating very well and keeping her weight steady." |
 Stephanos (Cup) galloped once around the turf course. Assistant trainer Kazuo Fujiwara said: "He is in great condition. Hugh Bowman will ride him on Thursday." |
 War Decree (Cup) galloped once around the all-weather track. |
 Let's Go Donki (Sprint) galloped on the turf course. Groom Yoshiaki Terada said: "She is now used to her new surroundings a bit more, so she settled much better today. She acted up a bit the first day. She is a smart horse. Jockey Yasunari Iwata won't make it over for her breeze on Thursday so our assistant trainer Rena Maehara will ride her." |
 Once in a Moon (Sprint) galloped on the turf course. Assistant trainer Katsuhisa Suzuki said: "Staying in the stable area and exercising in the trotting ring for two days since her arrival in Hong Kong was always the plan. She is a small, sensitive filly and can be a bit tense, which is why we need to keep her relaxed going into the race. Zac Purton will be riding her in a gallop. Purton added, "I'll gallop her on Thursday. She's obviously improving – her last run was the best – and she gets in with a weight allowance. Our horses break fast so the first 150 meters is going to be very important. If she jumps well and is right there with the leaders, I think she can run a cheeky race."" |
 Signs of Blessing (Sprint) galloped on the all-weather track. |
 Stormy Liberal (Sprint) worked 3f on the turf course in 39.8 seconds with jockey Silvestre de Sousa about, out the final furlong in 12.4 seconds. Trainer Peter Miller said of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) winner, "He looked well to my eye and travelled well within himself. It was a good leg stretcher and he handled the ground. The team is telling me the horse is doing really well and his energy levels are high. We're hoping for a good draw and if he gets that, I think he'll perform well. Going right-handed is always a question and there are a lot of things to overcome as an American horse in a very different racing environment, but we breezed him three times, at home, going what we would call the wrong way and he was fine; switching leads on queue. Today was the fourth time and he was good again." |
 The Right Man (Sprint) worked 4f in 1:00.60 on the turf course. Travelling head lad Cyrille Estampes said: "He travelled over well and everything has gone fine. We've had no problems since arriving and he has settled in well. I didn't travel him to Dubai but as this is his second long distance trip that must be a help. He has been staying in Chantilly [since his win at Maisons-Laffitte on 1 November]. He hasn't done a lot of work but the horse is ready. The trainer [Didier Guillemin] arrives tomorrow and we will see what he decides for the rest of the week." |
 Karar (Mile) galloped twice around the all-weather track. Anthony David, assistant to trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said, "In terms of the travelling everything went fine. He didn't move while he was on the plane and has adapted to the surroundings here pretty quickly. He ran just a month ago in the Breeders' Cup and so he is fit and ready. He has worked well in the interim back at home and we just need to keep him ticking over. I don't anticipate he will work on the turf course before the race." |
 Lancaster Bomber (Mile) cantered once around the all-weather track. |
 Lightning Spear (Mile) galloped on the all-weather track. Trainer David Simcock said from England: "Lightning Spear travelled over great and took the journey very well. His work has been good since he arrived in Hong Kong. He has a little bit of an inconsistent look to him now, but on his day he is capable of a very, very good performance. We are going there with an open mind and expect him to run well. In an ideal world, we would love to race him on good ground every time. He doesn't quite see out a mile on soft ground and, if it's very fast, he turns his nose up a bit. Somewhere in the middle on either side of good is perfect for him. When he is having a good day, he is a very talented horse." |
 Roly Poly (Mile) worked 1/4 mile in an easy 30.0 seconds on the all-weather track. |
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